Summary
Project Learn presented plans on Tuesday for a new Lowell Schools Fund intended to solicit private donations to support Lowell Public Schools programs, Project Learn executive director Elsie Nunn told the School Committee.
Project Learn presented plans on Tuesday for a new Lowell Schools Fund intended to solicit private donations to support Lowell Public Schools programs, Project Learn executive director Elsie Nunn told the School Committee. The fund would “mobilize donations from individuals and alumni and foundations and corporate sponsors” to fill gaps in public funding for priorities such as literacy and early learning, college and career readiness, STEM, arts and teacher innovation grants, Nunn said. Project Learn said the fund would collect gifts and allocate awards each fiscal quarter based on district need, and would report measurable results to the committee on a semiannual basis. Nunn said Project Learn serves more than 1,800 students a year through existing programs and hopes within a few years to build an endowment of “3 to $5 million” that could provide recurring support. Superintendent Lynch Skinner (referred to in the meeting as “superintendent Skinner”) voiced his support for the partnership. “Project Learn’s been a terrific partnership,” he said, adding the nonprofit provides internships, summer programs and arts projects that the school department is not structured to deliver. He described the item as informational and celebratory and said no vote was required. The presentation included program-level goals and pilot benchmarks; Nunn described the pilot targets as conservative and said the organization expects to exceed them. She said the fund will focus outreach to a 3,000-plus alumni network and to local foundations and corporate sponsors to increase “financial stability amid changing economic and political conditions.” Committee members asked clarifying questions about scope and reporting. Skinner confirmed the initiative is an informational item on the agenda and not a request for committee action that evening. He also noted the district and Project Learn will coordinate communications and reporting so the committee can review allocations and outcomes. The committee took no formal vote on the fund; the presentation was recorded as an informational item. Project Learn and district staff said they will provide additional launch details this fall and report back on early benchmarks.
